Grinding Teeth

DS is 8 month & has got all 4 of his front teeth. In the last week or so he's started grinding them together really hard. The noise is driving me crazy, it's like fingernails on a blackboard and really sets my teeth on edge.

I'm also a bit worried that it might damage them. When I hear him doing it I tell him 'no' quite firmly but I don't think he really understands.

Is this normal & is it likely to do any long term damage? Also any suggestions on how to get him to stop, the noise actually makes me feel a bit sick.

I asked my dentist and she said it's fairly common, nothing to be worried about and is either the little one getting used to having teeth and experimenting or it is because the milk teeth sometimes are not lined up quite right so they like to grind them. In older babies it is sometimes linked to stress, but you would probably know if your child was stressed!

I distract with a toy when dd does it, especially teething toys in case she wants to chew, I don't think she would understand "no" yet.

HiOnly my own experience, but dd1 did this at around 6/7 months old when she also had her 4 front teeth. I hated the noise too, really grating so I can totally empathise. Tried distraction too but seemed to be worst when we were in the car and there was nothing I could do about it! She seemed to grow out of it of her own accord after a month or two and hasn't done it since, now 19mo and has a mouthful of teeth!It seemed a long time at the time but just wanted to say it is possible they can just grow out of it! HTH. We figured she was just getting used to having teeth like jointhedots dentist suggested...

I know the feeling, I really worried too...but I know it can be stess related for older kids/adults and doesn't sound like your wee lad is stressed at all so hopefully he's just getting used to having teeth and he'll grow out of it! Fingers crossed as you say...

oh i'm so relieved as 12 month old DD is grinding- hs got both bottom and one and a bit top teeth and the hideou grinding is driving me spare. Im ignoring it as in don't give any attention to the behaviour to encourage it as an attention seeking one and cross everything she grows out of it fast.... thanks all